أرى الضُّرَّ يقفُو الحُرَّ في كُلِّ مَقصَدٍ

أرى الضُّرَّ يقفُو الحُرَّ في كُلِّ مَقصَدٍ

وَمغزىً كأنَّ الضُّرَّ بالحُرِّ مُغرَمُ

وَمغزىً كأنَّ الضُّرَّ بالحُرِّ مُغرَمُ

I see hardship following the noble man in every pursuit

I see hardship pursuing freedom in every goal,

And purpose, as though hardship were enamored of the noble man.

Its purpose as though hardship were enamored of freedom.

وإن يَنْوِ يَوماً عِزَّةً فَهْيَ ذِلَّةٌ

وإن يَنْوِ يَوماً عِزَّةً فَهْيَ ذِلَّةٌ

وإنْ يَبغِ يَوماً مَغنَماً فَهْوَ مَغْرَمُ

وإنْ يَبغِ يَوماً مَغنَماً فَهْوَ مَغْرَمُ

And if one day he aims for honor, it turns to humiliation;

And if one day it desires glory, it is but disgrace,

And if one day he seeks a gain, it turns to a loss.

And if one day it seeks profit, it suffers only loss.